It was an emotional day in a Trumbull County courtroom Friday after A Vienna man pleaded guilty to the killing of his live-in girlfriend last year.
Nathaniel Riggs admitted to beating Trisha Wade to death with a hammer last summer in the garage of their Vernon Township home. Riggs was sentenced to 20 years to life behind bars for the crime. After he was sentenced, an emotional outburst took place from Wades brother Joey, while giving his victim impact statement. "I just want to let her know that I love her and I hate him!," cried Wade. Wade flew out of the courtroom with deputies in pursuit. We are told he got into an argument with the defendant's father. Deputies were able to get the situation under control.
In a brief history of the crime, police were called to 4918 Bushenll Road last summer after a 911 call came in reporting a murder. That call came from Nathaniel Riggs' mother. She told police that her son had just killed his girlfriend. Police arrived to find the body of 32 year old Trisha Wade lying dead with severe trauma to her head. Wade confessed the crime to police saying, "I just killed my girlfriend. I just bashed in her head."
Trisha Wade's death leaves behind four young children.
